Meet Mitt Romney

Willard Mitt Romney was born on March 12, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan. He is the youngest of four siblings. His mother, Lenore, was an actress before she married Mitt’s father, George. Although George never graduated from college, he went on to an accomplished career in business and to serve as the Governor of Michigan. His son Mitt would follow with a career in business followed by a focus on politics.

A Focus on Family

The young Mitt first met his future wife, Ann, in elementary school. They met again later in life and married in 1969. Romney and his wife now have five adult sons and 18 grandchildren. They call family the center of their lives. Though Ann has faced serious health problems in recent years, she can often be seen campaigning by her husband’s side.

Romney is a Mormon, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Family, hard work and clean living are benchmarks of the faith.

DOUGLAS C. PIZAC—AP

Mitt Romney served as president of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, helping to make the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games a success.

A Business Background

After graduating from Brigham Young University in 1971, Romney earned law and business degrees from Harvard University. He spent most of his career as a successful businessman. After working as a business consultant for several years, Mitt founded the successful investment firm Bain Capital in 1984.

Romney also helped organize and steer the 2002 Winter Olympics, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Romney served as governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007, and worked to improve the state’s economy. He has written two books. Romney tried unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in the last presidential election. Paul Ryan is Romney’s vice-presidential running mate in Election 2012.